Question
Why have I been given Tribuss – is this an ARV?
5 February 2018. Related: All topics, South Africa, Starting treatment.
I started taking Tribuss about two weeks ago.
I’d like to know what are the side effects of this medication and what is the difference between them and ARVs.
I was shocked when my doctor prescribed me with Tribuss instead of ARVs which I’m familiar with when people are HIV+?
Answer
Hello,
Thanks for your email. How are you doing?
Tribuss is a pill that contains three HIV drugs (ARVs) – efavirenz, FTC and tenofovir DF.
It is one of the generic versions of the brand-name drug Atripla. For a picture of Tribuss see this link.
So your doctor has prescribed you ARVs, and this pill is very effective at treating HIV.
Side effects mainly related to the efavirenz. These include mood changes, sleep problems, vivid dreams (sometimes nightmares). Luckily, for most people, these usually get easier within the first few weeks. If not though, please talk to your doctor about different choices.
This link has more information about efavirenz side effects and how to manage them.
You guide is an Introduction to ART.
Because you are in South Africa, the Treatment Action Campaign may also have more information about treatment and support in SA.
Note: This answer was updated in February 2018 from a question first posted online in October 2013.
Hi,
I started taking ARVs in March this year, my CD4 count was less than 30 if I recall correctly and I realised this when I was diagnosed with Pneumonia. To date, my CD4 count is just above 80 and have been taking Tribuss for the past 3 months…
1. Is Tribuss the correct medication to take or is there something faster to improve my CD4 count?
Hi Delve,
Congratulations on the birth of your baby.
At this moment its not possible to say if your baby is going to be positive or not, this is why its important that they test.
Are you breastfeeding?
Hi I got the baby on the 6 of June and my viral load was 188 and CD4 was 570 is the any possibilities that my newborn can be affected
Hi Jessica,
Side effects for Tribuss are listed here. But are these side effects mild? Most people get mild side effects for the first few weeks of HIV treatment. But they usually go away. If they are continuing you can talk to the doctor about changing treatment for something that might be better for you.
Hi i have been on tribuss since last year August but i still feel sick, are these side effect normal since its been long time already
Hi Sebolelo,
You need to take your meds at a time of day that suits you and in a way that suits you. Taking them like you are doing is fine.
With regards to your second question, please see Q13 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hi
I have been on tribuss since March 2018 My CD 4 was 534 viral load was 333. I am taking my pills every day at 20h00. what I would like to ask is Can I take my pills immediately after eating ? when I started the pill I was eating 2 hours before but I felt discomfort as if i am burning in my stomach but since I eat 15 minutes before I don’t experience any problem my question is is it recommendable to take tribuss pill immediately after eating food? my second question is is there any problem If am drinking Vulcan silver immune pro ?
Hello Idah,
Atroiza are meds for HIV. The good thing is that being on these meds can protect you and your baby from HIV. Having an undetectable viral load means that HIV can not be transmitted. So it’s a good idea for both of you to talk to the clinic about having a baby.
I slept with someone who takes androiza but he did not alert me what’s is going on. We were trying to make a child I’m afraid that is something related to hiv.so what can I do now.
Hi Aubrey, Do you mean HIV? If so, the answer is yes. If you are taking Tribuss and your viral load test result is undetectable, you cannot transmit HIV. You can read about U=U (undetectable = untransmittable) here.